Pre-RC1 Public Download, no key?

I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that popped up
on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was direct from MS, I
expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they say they're going to
allow to get the file.

However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a product key.
Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I don't have a Beta
2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not expire in 14 days.

Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this "limited
public release" was terribly well planned.

Hello dark54555,

Use your Beta 2 key.

Tom Ziegmann
Microsoft Certified Professional
Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester

> I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that
> popped up on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was
> direct from MS, I expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they
> say they're going to allow to get the file.
>
> However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a product
> key. Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I
> don't have a Beta 2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not
> expire in 14 days.
>
> Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
> appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this
> "limited public release" was terribly well planned.
>

As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't participate
in Beta 2.

"Tom Ziegmann" wrote:

> Hello dark54555,
>
> Use your Beta 2 key.
>
> Tom Ziegmann
> Microsoft Certified Professional
> Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
> Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester
>
> > I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that
> > popped up on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was
> > direct from MS, I expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they
> > say they're going to allow to get the file.
> >
> > However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a product
> > key. Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I
> > don't have a Beta 2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not
> > expire in 14 days.
> >
> > Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
> > appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this
> > "limited public release" was terribly well planned.
> >
>
>
>

dark54555 schrieb:
> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't participate
> in Beta 2.

Then you will have to wait for RC1 which should be downloadable with a
key around Sept. 7.

Roy

You could email LHbeta@microsoft.com. I'm not sure if they will actually give
you a key but it is worth a shot.
--
Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org


"dark54555" wrote:

> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't participate
> in Beta 2.
>
> "Tom Ziegmann" wrote:
>
> > Hello dark54555,
> >
> > Use your Beta 2 key.
> >
> > Tom Ziegmann
> > Microsoft Certified Professional
> > Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
> > Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester
> >
> > > I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that
> > > popped up on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was
> > > direct from MS, I expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they
> > > say they're going to allow to get the file.
> > >
> > > However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a product
> > > key. Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I
> > > don't have a Beta 2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not
> > > expire in 14 days.
> > >
> > > Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
> > > appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this
> > > "limited public release" was terribly well planned.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

If that's the case, what was the point of this:
http://download.windowsvista.com/pre.../download.html

It just seems a bit contradictory. Here's the OS, and we're only allowing
the first 100,000 downloads, but you can't have a product key.

I suppose September 7 is within the 14 days, so it may be a moot point.

"Roy Coorne" wrote:

> dark54555 schrieb:
> > As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't participate
> > in Beta 2.
>
> Then you will have to wait for RC1 which should be downloadable with a
> key around Sept. 7.
>
> Roy
>

Hello dark54555,

It was meant for those that had originally signed up for Beta 2 CPP.
Tom Ziegmann
Microsoft Certified Professional
Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester

> If that's the case, what was the point of this:
> http://download.windowsvista.com/pre.../download.html
> It just seems a bit contradictory. Here's the OS, and we're only
> allowing the first 100,000 downloads, but you can't have a product
> key.
>
> I suppose September 7 is within the 14 days, so it may be a moot
> point.
>
> "Roy Coorne" wrote:
>
>> dark54555 schrieb:
>>
>>> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't
>>> participate in Beta 2.
>>>
>> Then you will have to wait for RC1 which should be downloadable with
>> a key around Sept. 7.
>>
>> Roy
>>

I do have a beta2 key and I couldn't download it because non-key holders have
stolen all 100,000 copies of the limited download.

THANKS A LOT!



"dark54555" wrote:

> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't participate
> in Beta 2.
>
> "Tom Ziegmann" wrote:
>
> > Hello dark54555,
> >
> > Use your Beta 2 key.
> >
> > Tom Ziegmann
> > Microsoft Certified Professional
> > Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
> > Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester
> >
> > > I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that
> > > popped up on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was
> > > direct from MS, I expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they
> > > say they're going to allow to get the file.
> > >
> > > However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a product
> > > key. Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I
> > > don't have a Beta 2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not
> > > expire in 14 days.
> > >
> > > Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
> > > appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this
> > > "limited public release" was terribly well planned.
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Mikey43:
It's still available at
http://download.windowsvista.com/pre.../download.html , the site
was still active just prior to this post. The other download link was a test
link getting ready for RC1.


"Mikey43" <Mikey43@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:930361A3-2A5E-448B-8F95-8BB701F485B5@microsoft.com...
>I do have a beta2 key and I couldn't download it because non-key holders
>have
> stolen all 100,000 copies of the limited download.
>
> THANKS A LOT!
>
>
>
> "dark54555" wrote:
>
>> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't
>> participate
>> in Beta 2.
>>
>> "Tom Ziegmann" wrote:
>>
>> > Hello dark54555,
>> >
>> > Use your Beta 2 key.
>> >
>> > Tom Ziegmann
>> > Microsoft Certified Professional
>> > Windows Vista / Server Longhorn Technical Beta Tester
>> > Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Technical Beta Tester
>> >
>> > > I, like many others, was able to download Pre-RC1 via the link that
>> > > popped up on sites like Gizmodo this morning. Since the download was
>> > > direct from MS, I expect it is legitimate for the 100,000 people they
>> > > say they're going to allow to get the file.
>> > >
>> > > However, there's nothing on that site that points you toward a
>> > > product
>> > > key. Since I'm not an MSDN, TechNet, or any other subscriber, I
>> > > don't have a Beta 2 key or any other key. I'd like my copy to not
>> > > expire in 14 days.
>> > >
>> > > Where do I go to get a key, or whom do I need to contact? While I
>> > > appreciate the chance to beta the OS, it doesn't seem like this
>> > > "limited public release" was terribly well planned.
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >

Leave the space for the Product Key blank.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"dark54555" <dark54555@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A76D21BF-F71F-4ADC-B4E8-7EDC94510607@microsoft.com...
> As I said in my prior post, I don't have a beta 2 key. I didn't
> participate
> in Beta 2.